10 Military-Grade Drones Seized From Three Indian Passengers At Delhi Airport
New Delhi: Customs officials at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi have seized 10 professional-grade drones from three Indian passengers who arrived from Hong Kong via Vietnam, officials said on Tuesday.
The passengers were intercepted at Terminal 3 on September 25 while attempting to cross the Green Channel. Acting on intelligence inputs, customs officers conducted a detailed examination of their baggage and recovered 10 drones along with controllers, camera-equipped gimbals, cables, propellers and joysticks.
The seized drones were valued at more than Rs 1.03 crore. A Chartered Engineer who examined the equipment assessed the drones as professional-grade unmanned aerial vehicles with advanced capabilities, including thermal imaging and laser range-finding systems.
According to customs officials, the technical features led to the drones being described as military- or defence-grade UAVs. The equipment was also assessed as requiring mandatory registration with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
An iPhone 18 Pro Max was also recovered during the baggage examination, with the total value of the seized goods reported at around Rs 1.03 crore.
The three passengers were apprehended and the drones and associated equipment were seized under the Customs Act, 1962. Authorities have not disclosed the identities of the passengers or established the intended use of the drones at this stage.
Officials said further investigation is underway to examine the circumstances surrounding the import of the drones, their documentation and regulatory status, as well as the pu
